According to the Dodge Analytics unit of McGraw-Hill Construction, the latest month's construction activity followed this pattern: Non-residential contracts decreased 66 percent from $12,276,000 in 2003 to $4,209,000 in 2004.

Residential contracts are up 73 percent at $26,156,000 in 2004 from $15,125,000 in 2003.

Cumulative year-to-date totals reflect an 87 percent decrease in non-residential building contracts from $98,034,000 in 2003 to $12,870,000 in 2004. Residential contracts show a 30 percent increase from $49,541,000 in 2003 to $64,646,000 in 2004.